Similar to other companies we saw at Sea Otter, Kenda Tires is expanding its gravel tire line this year. The new tubeless Alluvium 40mm gravel tire will be joining a line that includes the 35mm and 40mm Flintridge and 40mm Happy Medium file tread.
The Alluvium has flattened, dense center knobs designed to be durable over miles of gravel and three different sizes of side knobs for cornering grip and sidewall protection.
Kenda’s new Alluvium tire has three sizes of side knobs along with a smoother-rolling center. Kenda Alluvium Gravel Tire. © Cyclocross Magazine
Kenda named the Flintridge after the Flint Hills of Kansas where the Dirty Kanza takes place, and since alluvium is material deposited by rivers, one could say the tire is designed to help riders … go with the flow down gravel roads? We will have to check with our editor and his degree in Water Resources Management to get to the river bottom of this one.
Kenda will officially release the Alluvium later in 2018. The company will make it available in four sizes: 700c x 35, 40 and 45mm and 650b x 45mm.
Kenda’s new 40mm Alluvium gravel tire is coming later this year. Kenda Alluvium Gravel Tire. © Cyclocross Magazine
The tires come in two casings. The $55 Gravel Casing Technology (neé SCT) has bead-to-bead puncture protection, and the $50 Tubeless Race has a lighter, more supple casing without the bead-to-bead protection.
The new Alluvium gravel tire has a tight center and three sizes of side knobs for traction. Kenda Alluvium Gravel Tire. © Cyclocross Magazine
The other piece of Kenda news is the company will have skinwall tubeless casings available for the Flintridge, Alluvium and Kommando X as well as skinwall casings for some of its other tires such as the Kwick Seven-5.
Many of Kenda’s tires will be coming in skinwall, like this Kwick Seven-5 Sport tire. The tubeless versions will be a bit darker. © Cyclocross Magazine
Kenda’s new skinwall version of the GCT (Gravel Casing Technology) tubeless casing has a dark bronze color. The Kommando X is shown here. photo: courtesy
Stay tuned for a review of the new Alluvium tire. For more new gravel tires, see our coverage of Challenge, IRC and Goodyear.
More info: bicycle.kendatire.com
See what’s new this year with our coverage of the 2018 Sea Otter trade show.
